Computer Coding for Children

We are independent of government funding and our projects depend on donations from individuals and organisations. Whether it is by making a donation every month, or by giving what you can as a one off, it is all critical to our mission and work. No matter how big or small your contribution might be, every little bit counts.
You can send money instantly from your smartphone to this mobile money account (+256706900037). We do accept Western Union, MoneyGram and Bank Transfers as well.Account name: Refugee Friends Care Organization UG LTDAccount number: 9030014097588-usdSwift Code: SBICUGKXBank Name: Stanbic Bank UgandaBank Branch Name: Metro BranchCity and country: Kampala, UgandaOn behalf of everyone we work with, thank you for supporting of this cause!

CONTEXT AND JUSTIFICATION

Uganda is currently hosting more than 1.2 million refugees whose 60% are children (World Bank, 2017). An average of 2,000 people arrives daily since July 2016 – as the pressure on the public services and local resources is immense – with the authority and the locals visibly struggling to keep up. As such, part of the social problems facing by the these already marginalized children, young adults and women include luck of access to basic education, vocational skills, economic empowerment, sexual and reproductive health and rights...

Children and women are the most vulnerable to child exploitation and sexual violence resulting in a lack of education and economic empowerment opportunities due to their status as refugees. Only able to attend local school until the age of 12, they leave with limited job prospects, and consequently, many are tempted away from their community to seek low paid jobs. In addition, the lack of access to learn certain 21 first century skills that will contribute in their career and human development are part of the social exclusion problems facing these already marginalized youths.

Our findings about serious issues affecting refugee children, young adults and women in Kampala, ninety-nine percent (99%) of 120 interviewed ones reported that idleness was the main driver of their adversity, unhappiness and suffering. They said: “We are already facing tremendous difficulties including discrimination, family disapproval, social isolation, sexual violence, unwanted pregnancies... These threats cause poor self-esteem and feelings of shame and lead us to more emotional distress, suicide attempts, substance use, and risky sexual behavior. We do not know who we are and what we are. We are already dead!” Other facts showed that adolescent girls aged 14 – 16 years accounted for 40% of new unwanted pregnancies and sexual infections among all 120 persons interviewed. Data suggest this number is large enough to warrant special attention and targeted intervention, such as this computer coding project for children and women’s fun and economic empowerment.

OUR RESPONSE

Your given money will be exclusively used to evolve the proposed computer coding project for children and women’s fun and economic empowerment through equipping these already marginalized people with the training and support they need to become innovative social entrepreneurs of the future and blossom into confident citizens.

In keeping with these objectives, we intend to empower, by the end of year 2019, at least 300 young people (60% girls vs. 40% boys) aged 7 – 25 to learn how to use computer science to create fun and interactive stories, video games, apps mobile, drawings, cartoons, websites and more digital products themed on various topics including gender-based violence, children and climate change, peace and conflict resolution, sexual and reproductive health and rights and so many other life issues.

Our methodology and products are real educational and stimulate conversations on these sensitive life issues. We find it crucial that the most marginalized children and adolescent girls have proper access to correct information and learn to communicate about the respect and non-violation of their human rights, and the sexuality (even before they become sexual active themselves). As such, the computer coding project for refugee children and women’s fun and economic empowerment contributes towards the social inclusion of the children and women as it will lay a promising professional foundation for them to become professional in the focus computer science skills areas.

Directly, this project supports the Sustainable Development Goals – SDG Goal 4: To ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all; SDGs Goal 5: To Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls; and Goal 10: To reduce inequality within and among countries.

IMPACT AND PARTNERSHIPS

Education empowers communities; for the younger generations, it offers opportunities into higher education, as well as giving them the confidence and skills to enter the workforce. For the community elders, many of whom are illiterate, it offers hope that new generations of the community are destined for a future of options and consequential prosperity. For the community as a whole, it provides morale and a sense of direction towards positive change.Partnerships form the core of our organization and all its projects, including the computer coding project for children and women’s fun and economic empowerment and will be vital to its success. This project is open to any interested individuals, grassroots refugee and youth led-organizations, non-profit international organizations, civil society, private sector, government and UN agencies... to ensure the refugee children and young women are well-equipped and given essential skills to be used not only in their community settings, but also beyond their expectations.